Medinilla hybrid plant named ‘ROYAL GLOW’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Medinilla  cultivar named ‘ROYAL GLOW’ is disclosed, characterized by a solid growth habit, erect plant habit, measuring about 35 cm in height; green colored leaves, and pendulous panicles with red-purple (RHS 63B) colored flowers. The new variety is a  Medinilla , normally produced as an ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Medinilla hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘ROYAL GLOW’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct hybrid cultivar ofMedinilla plant, botanically known as Medinilla hybrid, hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘ROYAL GLOW’. The genus of Medinillabelongs to the Melastomataceae family.

The new Medinilla ‘ROYAL GLOW’ is a product of a planned breedingprogram conducted by the inventors, Elly Bak and Nico D. M. Steur, inAssendelft, The Netherlands. The seed parent is the Medinilla selectiondesignated ‘88078319’ (unpatented). The pollen parent is the Medinillaselection designated ‘88078320’ (unpatented). The objective of thebreeding program was to produce a new Medinilla variety with goodgrowing habits and an attractive inflorescence. The crossing was made in2011.

‘ROYAL GLOW’ was discovered and selected by the inventors in 2013, as asingle flowering plant, at a research greenhouse in Assendelft, TheNetherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Medinilla hybrid ‘ROYAL GLOW’ terminalvegetative stem cuttings was first performed in 2013 Assenfeldt, theNetherlands. Subsequent propagation has demonstrated that thecombination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivarare firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘ROYAL GLOW’ which in combinationdistinguish this Medinilla hybrid as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   1. Solid growth habit;-   2. Erect shrub plant, measuring about 35 cm in height (above the pot    when first flowering);-   3. Green colored leaves, measuring about 25 cm in length and about    13 cm in width;-   4. Pendulous panicles with red-purple (RHS 63B) colored flowers.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Of the commercial cultivars known to the present inventors, the mostsimilar in comparison to the new Medinilla ‘ROYAL GLOW’ is the Medinilla‘ROYAL INTENZ’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,665). Plants of the new Medinilla‘ROYAL GLOW’ differ from the plants of Medinilla ‘ROYAL INTENZ’ in thefollowing ways:

-   1. Plants of ‘ROYAL GLOW’ have smaller leaves than plants of ‘ROYAL    INTENZ’.-   2. Plants of ‘ROYAL GLOW’ have lighter colored inflorescences than    ‘ROYAL INTENZ’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Medinilla ‘ROYAL GLOW’ showing the colors as true as is reasonablypossible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describes the color of‘ROYAL GLOW’.

FIG. 1. shows a side view perspective of a typical potted floweringplant of ‘ROYAL GLOW’ at about 50 weeks from potting.

FIG. 2. shows a side view perspective of a typical inflorescence of‘ROYAL GLOW’ at about 50 weeks from potting.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

‘ROYAL GLOW’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variationsin environment such as temperature, light intensity, day length,fertilizers and humidity without any change in the genotype of theplant.

The aforementioned photograph, together with the following observations,measurements and values describe the new Medinilla ‘ROYAL GLOW’ as grownin a greenhouse in Assendelft, the Netherlands, under conditions whichclosely approximate those generally used in a commercial practice.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), 2001 Edition, except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditionsin a greenhouse in Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the plants of‘ROYAL GLOW’ described is about 50 weeks from potting.

-   Botanical classification: Medinilla hybrid ‘ROYAL GLOW’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Medinilla selection designated ‘88078319’            (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Medinilla selection designated ‘88078320’            (unpatented).

PROPAGATION

-   Cuttings.

PLANT

-   General appearance and form:    -   -   Height.—About 35 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 50 cm.        -   Shape.—Erect Shrub.        -   Growth habit.—Stem.        -   Plant vigor.—Good.        -   Flowering season.—From April till October.        -   Cold tolerance.—Frost tender, temperatures below 5° C. may            damage plants.-   Quantity of primary lateral branches: Average: 2.-   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:    -   -   Diameter.—About 15 mm.        -   Shape.—Winged, width of wings about 3 mm.        -   Length.—15 to 25 cm.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Strength.—Medium.        -   Internode length.—8 to 15 cm.        -   Color.—Green; near RHS 137B with lignified parts near            Grey-Brown 199B.

FOLIAGE

-   Arrangement: Opposite.-   Overall shape: Elliptical.-   Quantity: About 14.-   Attachment: Sessile.-   Average overall length: 25 cm.-   Average overall width: 13 cm.-   Apex: Cuspidate.-   Base: Acute.-   Margin: Entire to weakly undulate.-   Texture, both sides: Smooth.-   Venation:    -   -   Type.—Sunken, below surface of leaf.        -   Pattern.—Parallel.        -   Color upper side.—Yellow-green; closest to RHS 145C.        -   Color under side.—Green; closest to RHS 138B.

INFLORESCENCE

-   Shape: Pendulous panicles.-   Amount: About 4, depending on size of plant.-   Length: Average: 42 cm.-   Width: Average: 15 cm.-   Aspect: Pendulous.-   Color: Red, closest to RHS 62B.-   Fragrance: Not observed.-   Corolla:    -   -   Number.—About 300 per panicle.-   Petals:    -   -   Quantity.—4-6 per flower.        -   Length.—Average: 13 mm.        -   Width.—Average: 7 mm.        -   Overall shape.—Ovate, asymmetrical.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Shape.—Obovate, symmetrical.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Glabrous all surfaces.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.        -   Color.—When opening, upper surface: Red-purple closest to            RHS 74C. When opening, lower surface: Red-purple closest to            RHS 74C.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity.—Single structure identifiable, round in shape, no            individual apex.        -   Length.—Maximum 8 mm.        -   Width.—Approximately 4 mm.        -   Base.—Fused.        -   Margin.—Entirely fused.        -   Texture.—Glabrous all surfaces.        -   Arrangement.—Growth together, enclosing the ovary.        -   Color.—Closest to RHS Red-Purple 62.-   Bracts:    -   -   Arrangement.—Verticillate.        -   Quantity.—4 per crown.        -   Length.—Average 2 to 5 cm.        -   Width.—Average 1 to 3.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical.        -   Color.—Closest to Red RHS 39B.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Glabrous all surfaces.-   Bud:    -   -   Length.—Average: 10 mm.        -   Diameter.—Average: 5 mm.        -   Color.—Red-purple; near RHS 63B.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.-   Peduncles:    -   -   Length.—Average 16 cm.        -   Diameter.—Average 7 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Angle.—Straight down.        -   Color.—Basal light green; near RHS 145C to Red-purple near            RHS 59C.-   Pedicels:    -   -   Length.—Average range 3 cm to 12 mm.        -   Diameter.—Average: 2 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Angle.—About 45°.        -   Color.—Closest to Red-purple RHS 63B.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—Average: 10.        -   Length.—8 mm.        -   Diameter.—<1 mm.        -   Color.—Yellow, with a white base (too small to qualify            R.H.S. value).-   Anthers:    -   -   Shape.—Basifixed, linear.        -   Diameter.—2 mm.        -   Length.—9 mm.        -   Color.—Violet, closest to RHS 83B.        -   Pollen.—Not visible.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1 per flower.        -   Length.—15 mm.        -   Style.—Length: 14 mm. Color: RHS White 155D.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Punctiform. Width: <1 mm. Color: White, too            small to qualify R.H.S. value.        -   Ovary.—Shape: Obovoid. Position: Inferior. Length: 5 mm.            Diameter: 3.5 mm. Color: White; closest to RHS 155C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: No seeds or fruits detected to date.-   Disease/pest resistance: No observations made.-   Temperature tolerance: Temperatures below 5° C. may damage plants.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Medinilla plantnamed ‘ROYAL GLOW’ as herein illustrated and described.